Dubai tops chart as international hotspot, Mumbai first as domestic destination

According to the data provided by Delhi International Airport (P) Limited (DIAL), passengers flew via 55 airlines from Delhi airport in the financial year 2013-14, among them total 12.68 million went to international destinations while 24.19 million commuters went to domestic destinations. The total number of passengers in 2013-14 was 36.88 who were flown from Delhi airport.

The data further shows the top five international destinations as Dubai (1375464 passengers), London (1047617 passengers), Bangkok (724882 passengers), Kathmandu (704691 passengers) and Singapore (626310 passengers).

While in domestic destinations, Mumbai (4042730 passengers) topped the chart followed by Bangalore (2635685 passengers), Chennai (1603468 passengers), Srinagar(1431038 passengers), Pune (1166957 passengers).

Meanwhile, experts say that these domestic and international hubs have been attractive to passengers due to their good connectivity and tourist spots. However, it does not mean that all these passengers disembarked in Dubai. ‘About 60 to 70% of passengers from India who flew to Dubai and London were transit passengers who took onwards flights to Europe, the United States and other Gulf destinations,’ said a senior airline official.

The hike in Indian passengers travelling to or through Dubai has been caused by the fact that seven 

Indian and Dubai airlines operated to and from 20 Indian cities, which have a total of 185 flights every week.